Hearn Hopes to Be Back in a Few Weeks

Laker announcer Chick Hearn, recovering from hip surgery, is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and hopes to be back on the air in a few weeks.

“I may do only home games until the start of the playoffs,” said Hearn, speaking from his hospital bed at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. “But once the playoffs begin, I will do all the games, home and away.

“Tell everyone I am in good spirits.”

Marge Hearn said her husband has undertaken a vigorous program with the hope of making it back to complete his 41st season as the team’s announcer.

“He is working so hard,” she said. “He is determined to do this.”

Hearn, whose streak of 3,338 consecutive games behind the Laker microphone was broken earlier this season when he had open-heart surgery, underwent a second operation Feb. 19 after falling and breaking his hip.

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Friday was the deadline for adding a player who would be eligible for the playoffs, but it passed without the Lakers flinching.

Although 6-foot-10, 270-pound center Ike Austin, among others, was put on waivers, Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak says he is content to head into the postseason with the roster he has.

“Of course, you have to watch the waiver wire,” Kupchak said, “but we like this group of players. We feel this group has earned the right to defend its title.

“We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but the major reason is that Shaq [O’Neal] has been injured.”

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If there is a Laker concern, it’s depth in the rebounding department because of the absence of Samaki Walker. The power forward has sat out the last six games because of a hyperextended right elbow.

“If he was going to be out several months,” Kupchak said, “then maybe we would have thought about doing something.”

Walker is hoping to be back for Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Nets at Staples Center, but he acknowledges there is still swelling and pain in the elbow.

“It’s excruciating pain,” Walker said. “I’d like to be back, but I won’t predict anything.”

Coach Phil Jackson refuses to place the blame for the lapse in rebounding on the loss of Walker.

“We just have to rebound as a team,” Jackson said. “It’s not just one individual.”

Walker was averaging 7.0 rebounds, slightly fewer than the combined efforts of Robert Horry (5.5) and Slava Medvedenko (2.3).

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After playing six of their last seven on the road, the Lakers will play five of six at home, the exception being Wednesday’s game in Salt Lake City.

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Steve Springer